DEFENDING THE ARTERIES OF REBELLION: Confederate Naval Operations in the Mississippi River Valley, 1861-1865

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The Confederate war machine introduced numerous innovations and alternate defenses of the Mississippi River, including the CSA's first operational ironclad, the first successful use of underwater torpedoes, widespread use of army-navy joint operations, and the employment of extensive river obstructions. When the Mississippi River came under complete Union control in 1863, Confederate efforts shifted to the river's many tributaries, where a bitter and deadly struggle ensued to control these internal lifelines. Despite a lack of ships, material, personnel, funding, and unified organization, not to mention competition among all services for scarce resources, the Confederacy fought desperately and scored many localized tactical victories -- often won at great cost -- but failed at the strategic level.